Ukraine war: Russia no longer wants to participate in work in the Council of Europe

Ukraine war: Russia no longer wants to participate in work in the Council of Europe

After the attack on Ukraine, Russia was suspended from the Council of Europe. Moscow is now taking action – and no longer wants to participate in the committee. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe is already examining further steps.

In response to Russia’s suspension from the Council of Europe, the country no longer wants to participate in the work of the body. This was announced by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday in Moscow.

“Russia will not participate in the transformation of Europe’s oldest organization by NATO and the EU, which obediently follows, into another platform for Western domination and narcissism. They should have fun communicating with each other, without Russia,” it said in a statement.

“The exit from the Council of Europe also involves the exit from all mechanisms,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to the Interfax agency, when asked whether the Foreign Ministry’s statement also referred to the work of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg Judgment that Russia would then no longer hold up.

Moscow complains about alleged discrimination

Anti-Russian states are abusing their majority in the Committee of Ministers, which includes representatives from the 47 member countries, thus continuing the “annihilation” of the Council of Europe, Russia’s foreign ministry has claimed. Russia repeatedly complains of alleged discrimination.

The Council of Europe monitors compliance with human rights in its 47 member states and is not part of the EU. The body reacted to the Russian attack on Ukraine a good two weeks ago by suspending it. This decision was considered historic. Russia temporarily lost its rights of representation in the Strasbourg organization. However, the country will remain a formal member until the end of the financial year, Russian politicians stressed in Moscow.

The Council of Europe announced on Thursday possible steps towards Russia’s exclusion. The Committee of Ministers said on Thursday evening that the Parliamentary Assembly would be consulted on further measures under Article 8 of the Statute. Article 8 includes the possibility to ask a member country to leave or to exclude it itself. Council of Europe spokesman Daniel Höltgen called this an “important step”. The Parliamentary Assembly, with delegates from national parliaments, is convening on Monday and Tuesday for an emergency session over the Ukraine war and could also issue a resolution calling for Russia’s exclusion.

Source: Stern

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